Do you have a large patio space that is currently wide open and empty? Or, is it filled with makeshift temporary furniture that creates a disorganized, haphazard atmosphere? Are you constantly moving things around to suit the occasion of the moment? Would a more permanent (remember, nothing should be totally permanent), well-organized, design savvy outdoor patio living area be more preferable? It is actually not that difficult or expensive to transform that overwhelming patio space into an attractive, welcoming outdoor living area that acts as a natural extension of any home.
To start, think of this large space as a great room or family room just as if it were a room inside the house that is in need of renovation. By contrast, this renovation does not require elaborate construction and extensive building materials, unless of course that is the project that you desire and can afford. The alternative is to use a few well-chosen pieces of patio furniture and garden accessories to frame and organize a large space into smaller, more intimate and inviting outdoor rooms that flow naturally together.
The first area to establish is the dining area as this is usually the focal point of outdoor entertaining and living. The dining table can be as simple as a good picnic table or a more sophisticated look can be achieved with a patio dining set. These can be found in a wide variety of materials including plastic, resin and metal with glass or ceramic tops; if classic wood is preferred both teak and cedar patio furniture are excellent choices for their durability and beauty. Think about using a cedar garden hutch as an improvised dining hutch to store dishes, tablecloths and other utensils; it could add formality as well as practicality to the dining area.
Of course the dining area will need to be situated in relative proximity to the cooking area. A good barbecue and a small work table are the only absolutes here, but it is not that difficult to expand this area into a working outdoor kitchen. An extra burner of some sort is easy to install for additional cooking possibilities. Add a small fridge if hydro is accessible or just have a cooler set up on a table with shelves underneath for extra storage. Another garden hutch could also be employed here as a kitchen cupboard that ties this area to the matching hutch in the dining area. A stylish and functional division between the cooking and dining areas can be established with a bar set that becomes a sit-up counter similar to ones often found inside the house.
At this point, two individual rooms have been created that are connected and open to each other yet independent in function and space. Next, a living area will need to be established. Once again, this area of the outdoor patio should be open and flow naturally from the dining area yet be individually defined by some form of dividing factor.
The patio furniture that is chosen can easily take on the role of dividing and defining a sitting area. Simply setting a couch or loveseat with its back to the dining table establishes separation. Two couches, garden benches or gliders can be set at 90 degrees with a side table between them to establish a corner that gives the area definition of size and purpose. A row of two or three adirondack chairs along one edge of the patio with a garden behind them creates a very stylish and inviting backdrop. Setting up a small pagoda that holds a bench or garden swing is also an option. One more way to create a perimeter wall or dividing wall is to use combinations of garden boxes, trellises and garden arbors. Two garden boxes connected by a plank bench can substitute for a railing or create a room divider; erect a small trellis in each box on which ivy, honeysuckle, trumpet vine or any climbing plant can be grown and a living wall is established. Another option is to place an arched arbor between two garden boxes with a climbing plant to create a beautiful doorway from one outdoor room to another or at the entrance to the patio as a whole.
Finally, any combination of these suggestions can be utilized to form the outdoor patio living area that suits your lifestyle and individual taste. The trick is to invest in a few key pieces augmented by less expensive additions to complement the overall design. Be creative but first measure the space, plan carefully and remember the two most important design rules: form follows function; less is more.
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